Nurseries

When you choose one of our nurseries, you can be confident that your child will receive high-quality care and education in a safe, nurturing environment where they can thrive, develop their potential and enjoy learning through play.

All Ofsted registered early years providers are required by law to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.

The EYFS framework:

• sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well

• ensures children are kept healthy and safe

• ensures children have the knowledge and skills they need to start school

The educational programmes we provide involve activities and experiences for the children in seven areas of learning:

• communication and language

• physical development

• personal, social and emotional development

• literacy

• mathematics

• understanding the world

• expressive arts and design

We recognise that children learn best when they are engaged and motivated. By listening to children, observing their interests and responding to their ideas, we create meaningful learning experiences that support their individual development and foster a love of learning.

Each area of learning and development is implemented through planned purposeful play and a mixture of adult-led and child-initiated activity.

The EYFS profile helps to provide nursery staff and parents with reliable and accurate information about each child’s level of development. This enables the key worker to plan an effective, responsive and appropriate curriculum that will meet your child’s needs and support their continued achievement more fully.

The nurseries use a secure on-line programme called ‘Tapestry’ to assess, record and track each child’s learning and development.

Parent’s have access to their own child’s records and are able to contribute by adding photographs and comments that their child’s key-worker can use as part of their assessments.

Tapestry is a website which allows parents and guardians to securely keep track of your child’s development and time with us.

Photos, videos and observation are uploaded directly to your Tapestry account. you are then sent an email to alert you that something new has been added to your child’s Learning journal.

The safeguarding of our children is very important to us. Only nursery staff and parents/guardians with a login can access individual accounts. It is important that you don’t need to share information on social media or other online platforms as this may result in your access to the system being withdrawn.

Early years settings are legally required to monitor and record attendance. Please notify the nursery on the first day of your child’s absence by contacting the relevant nursery or messaging via Tapestry.

Unexplained or prolonged absences will be followed up with parents/carers or, where necessary, emergency contacts as part of our safeguarding procedures.

Full fees remain payable for all absences, including illness, family holidays, student placements, student term-time holidays and cancelled classes (not courses).

If you don’t have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer you can look at your child’s account during Parent Open Days.

We will set up an account for you on Tapestry and give you login details. There is also a free app available for Apple and Android devices.

Our nurseries are welcoming environments where children settle quickly and easily. This is because consideration is given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families.

We believe children settle best when they have a Key Person to relate to, who knows them and their parents well.

Each child is allocated a Key Person who is responsible for the induction of the family and for settling the child into the nursery.

During induction, parents and carers are encouraged to stay with their child and then gradually take time away, increasing this as and when the child is ready.

Prospective parents are welcome to visit the nurseries, by arrangement, before enrolment.

Mealtimes offer children the chance to develop independence by making choices, serving food and drink and feeding themselves. Through research and discussion with parents, we cater for the dietary rules of different religions, preferences such as vegetarian and vegan diets, and specific allergies. To protect children who may have serious allergies, our nursery operates a strict nut-free policy. Please do not bring any type of nuts or nut-containing products into the nursery.

Both nurseries have their caterer with whom parents can discuss their child’s dietary needs. The caterer and the child’s Key Person will work together to ensure meal times are a healthy and positive experience for your child.

We provide protective clothing for children when they take part in messy activities. Children are encouraged to gain the skills that help them to be independent and look after themselves. These include taking themselves to the toilet and taking off and putting on outdoor clothes. Parents must provide nappies and wipes.

We work together with parents to toilet train your child when all involved feel he or she is ready. Children must be provided with suitable outdoor clothing, as activities take place outdoor in all weathers.

The nursery’s commitment to provide care for children with special educational needs and disabilities is referred to in our policy on Promoting Inclusion, Equality and Valuing Diversity. Each application will be considered individually and reasonable adjustments will be made, where possible, to ensure that each child's needs can be met.

We provide an environment in which all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are supported to reach their full potential. We have in place a clear approach for identifying, responding to and supporting children with SEND.

Leicester College has a statutory and moral duty to ensure it functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults receiving education and training at the College.

Our nurseries work with children, parents and the community to ensure the rights and safety of the children and to give them the very best start in life.

Our child centered approach is fundamental to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child. Our ethos of respecting and listening to children means they are more likely to talk about things that worry them, including child protection and safeguarding issues. Building children’s trust so that they understand that they will be listened to and taken seriously, is a vital element of safeguarding practice.

The relationships we build with parents and carers, also provide an environment where they are supported to discuss issues, talk about any concerns and get advice from Key Workers.

All of our staff undergo enhanced DBS checks and participate in regular safeguarding training to ensure they remain up to date with current safeguarding practices. The designated senior member of staff with lead responsibility for child protection issues at Leicester College is the Director of Student Services & Marketing.

You can apply for child care funding if you are a student at the College, allocation is subject to an eligibility criteria and terms and conditions.